Tank structure



G. M. EATON TANK s'rnucms Filed NOV. 1. 1922 INVENTOR George M. Eaton, B

ATTORN EY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE'M. EEATON, 0F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

I TANK STRUCTURE.

Application filed. November 1, 1922. Serial No. 598,282.

' sible and to minimize the entry of air into the interior of the tank.

When air obtains access to the interior of the tank, it not only carries with it a considerable amount of moisture in suspension which mingles with the oil and diminishes its dielectric properties, but also the oxygen in the air combines with the oil and effects oxidation thereof. Furthermore, in the event that a short circuit or are develops in the submerged apparatus, hydrogen and methane gases are liberated from the oil that combine with the oxygen in the air within the tank to form a highly explosive gas. If a spark should .occurwithin this gas, an explosion would result, with consequent danger to life and property adjacent thereto.

In order to avoid the objections heneinbefore enumerated, various structures have been designedpbut it has been exceedingly. difficult to obtain and maintain a hermetic bolted closure or joint between thecover and the body portion of the tank, such as would 1 prevent the leakage of the gas from the tank and the eventual development of. an explosive mixture. 1

,One ofthe ObJects of my invention is to provide a tank, of the character designated,

avin a fluid seal which is adapted to iso-- late t e inert gas within the tankand to maintain the same remote from the-connection between the cover of the tank/ I Another object of my invention is to profvide a device of the character designated inv which the cover portion of the tank carries a continuous depending flange that is adapted to extend I, downwardly into the .body of cooling and insulating oil contained in the lower portion'of the tank, thereby avoiding the necessity of providing a separate channel portion for containing a sealing fluid. v

' cordance with a modification of my inven- H r 1 i 70. to the drawings, and particuand the body portion A still further object of my invention is metic joint for the tank.

In the accompanying drawings, v Figure 1' is a vertical sectional view through they upper portion of a tank constrcilicted in accordance with my invention, an

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the upper portion of a tank constructed in action.

Referring larly to Fig. 1 thereof, a tank constructed in' accordance with myinvention is illustrated as comprising a body portion 1, the upper portion of the side walls of which is provided with an outwardly extending flange 2 to which a cover 3 is secured by means of bolts or rivets 4. A gasket 5 may be inserted between the cover 3 and the flange 2. The tank is adapted to contain abody of insulating. or arc-quenching oil 6 within which an electrical apparatus, (not shown) may be immersed, and a blanket of inert gas 7 disposed thereabove.

The'cover 3- of the tank is provided with a continuous depending flange 8 that is preferably welded thereto and; projects downwardly into a 'continuous channel 9 which extends around the inner. surface of the side 'walls of the tank, adjacent to the upper portion thereof, and contains a body of sealing liquid 10. i

By this construction, a fluid seal is interposed betweenthe inert gas withinthe tank and the connection between the cover and the tank so that the gas confined within the tank may not escape through the connection between the tank and the cover.

In Fig. 2, of the drawings, is illustrated another form of my invention, in 'which the flange ,8 projects downwardly into the main body of oil contained within the tank, thereby providing a liquid seal, without the necessity of constructing a separate channel, as in the construction hereinbefore described.

-Va rious modificationsjand changes may be made in details and I desire, therefore, that only" such limitations ,shall be imposed as areset forth in the appended claims.

' I claim as my invention:

1. A tank adapted to contain an insulatliquid and an inert gas and comprising a 1n bo ly portion, a cover rigidly mounted on liquid, said cover having a continuous deending baflle connected thereto and extendmg into the tank adjacent to its side wall, the lower ed e of the bafl le being submerged in said insu ating liquid.

3. A tank adapted to contain an insulat ing liquid and a body of inert gas and comprising a body portion having a continuous channel on its inner surface adjacent to the upper portion thereof, said channel containing a body of liquid, and a cover rigidly secured to said tank and provided with a con-v tinuous depending flange adapted to extend into said channel and the liquid contained therein to provide a fluid seal disposed between the said'body portion and said cover whereby escape of the inert gas contained in said tank is impeded, said cover being non-movable with respect to said casing ppond change in 'volume of said insulating 1qu1 j.

4. In combination, a casing, a liquid medium and an overlying gaseous medium in said casing,- a cover secured to said casing and contacting directly with said gaseous medium, a. heat-generating device in said casing and enveloped by said liquid medium, and means .for impeding interchange path between said casing and cover of the casing ambient atmosphere and said gaseous medium.

6. In combination, a casing, a liquid mev,dium and an overlying gaseous medium in said casing, a cover secured to said casing and contacting directly with said gaseous medium, aheat-generating device in said casing and enveloped by said liquid medium, and means for impeding interchange along a path between said casing and cover of the casing ambient atmosphere and said gaseous medium, said Qlast-n'amed means comprising structure forming a liquid seal with said liquid medium,

7. In combination, a casing, a. liquid medium and an overlying gaseous medium in said casing, a cover secured to said casing and contacting directly with said gaseous medium, a heat-generating device in said casing and enveloped by said liquid medium, and means for impeding interchange along a path between said casing and cover of the casing ambient atmosphere and said gaseous medium, said last-named means comprising a flange projecting from said cover interiorly of said casing and forming a liq-' uid seal with said liquid'medium.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 25th day of Octo ber, 1922. v v GEORGE M. EATON. 

